Discuss: Talking Something Through
To discuss is to talk about something in detail, especially with others. The Latin root means to shake apart, which is a good description of a real discussion.
Discuss means to examine a subject in conversation. The Latin *discutere* meant to shake apart or break up, and the image survives: a proper discussion takes a subject to pieces rather than leaving it whole.
- To talk about in detail. *We discussed the proposal for an hour.*
- To examine in writing. *The paper discusses three approaches.*
- To debate. *The committee discussed whether to proceed.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | discuss | Discuss it later. |
| Noun | discussion | A long discussion. |
| Adjective | discursive | A discursive essay. |
| Noun | discourse | Public discourse. |
| Related | debate | A televised debate. |
How it is used in a sentence
- They discussed the matter privately.Discuss takes a direct object — never discuss about.
- Under discussion, not yet decided.Under discussion is the fixed phrase.
- Discuss.The traditional one-word instruction on an examination paper.
Discuss, debate, argue and negotiate
- Discuss — examine a subject together, with no side required
- Debate — argue formally for opposing positions
- Argue — press a case, or quarrel, depending on tone
- Negotiate — discuss in order to reach an agreement
- Deliberate — consider carefully before deciding, often as a body
From Latin *discutere*, to shake apart, from *dis* and *quatere*, to shake. The same *quatere* gives concussion and percussion — a whole family of shaking, of which discussion is the gentlest.
Discuss about — is it wrong?
Yes. Discuss takes a direct object: *discuss the plan*. Talk about is the phrase that needs the preposition.
Discussion or discourse?
A discussion is a specific conversation. Discourse is the broader body of talk and writing on a subject.